There's been a lot of buzz in the news lately about traditional light bulbs since the ban on manufacturing new incandescent lights has gone into effect. This change is mostly going to affect homeowners, since most businesses have already moved away from incandescent lighting. The ban has, however, brought attention to the variety of available lighting alternatives. This focus has caused a lot of businesses to reevaluate whether they want to stick with their flourescent lights or not. As a result, many retailers and homeowners alike have begun to make a switch to LED lighting instead.
How Do LED Lights Work?
Unlike other styles of light bulbs, LEDs don't contain any glass. LEDs are manufactured with silicon and don't require any gasses to emit light. They are typically made up of individual light emiting diodes roughly the size of a grain of sand. Although there are a variety of colors, most commonly LEDs are white, red, green, and blue. By mixing the colored diodes, you have limitless color options available to you. Instead of emitting light in all directions, like their more traditional counter-parts, LEDs have a smaller viewing angle. As an example, instead of light being wasted on the ceiling, your LED ceiling panels will illuminate in a more direct path.
Why Not Flourescent Bulbs?
Why wouldn't you want to use a flourescent bulb? Many businesses have used flourescent lighting for years because of the low installation cost, or simply because it was the most common lighting option used. Flourescent bulbs may have been around for a while, but that doesn't mean they don't have their problems. They are much less energy efficient than LEDs, producing a lot of wasted heat. Gradually, damage to flourescents occurs by frequent turning on and off. This makes them a poor choice in a setting where you want to reduce energy use by keeping the lights off. Another issue with flourescents is the 60 Hertz hum. This low buzzing noise can cause the occupants of a store or office to become uncomfortable.
How LED Lighting Can Improve Your Store Or Home
LED lights are incredibly versatile. With the variety of colors and color temperatures available, their brightness, and the ability for some LED products to change color or create animations, LED lighting has endless possibilities. For businesses, LEDs provide customizeable display, overhead lighting, and signage options while saving energy. Homeowners can take advantage of the benefits of LEDs for exterior lighting, under cabinet lighting in the home, more efficient lighting in a workshop or garage, and much more. The initial installation cost of LED lighting runs higher than traditional lighting. However, their long lifespan and the money you'll save on energy makes it back quickly.
